A hopeful longlist that reflects the belief that every woman’s voice has the power to elicit and inspire change, the sixteen captivating titles span politics, memoir, science, history, biography, art and more, in an extraordinary, international celebration of women’s writing.
The 16 books – seven of which are debuts – are a compelling and inspiring reading list for 2026 and beyond. They showcase the many varied ways in which writers approach memoir writing, use personal experience to unlock stories of the past, and tackle the social, political, cultural, legal and environmental issues facing society today, with many offering an image of hope for the future.
Biography longlist nominees are:
Our Bookshop Hero Lizzy has already picked a few favourites from the longlist, including Heart - The Lover, The Correspondent and Wild Dark Shore. If you’re looking for a place to start, these are three titles she’s especially excited about
Lizzy's reviews are below:
Heart the Lover
By Lily King
"A precise and poignant exploration for that first great love
This is my first novel by Lily King and she is now an auto-buy for me. The writing in Heart the Lover was sharp and sincere and brought to life this gorgeous story about the tension of a first love and what it means to look back on that when we're older. This is short and engaging so don't be surprised if you read it in 24 hours and finish wanting more of Lily's incredible prose and characters. Perfect if you're a fan of Sally Rooney or Maggie O'Farrell."
The Correspondent
By Virginia Evans
"Will no doubt be one of my favourite reads of 2026
You know how sometimes a book is so hyped that there's no way it can live up to the expectations? Well for The Correspondent that was 100% not the case. I wept for the last portion of the book and I am not someone who cries when reading. Please pick it up and give this book a go."
Wild Dark Shore
By Charlotte McConaghy
Charlotte McConaghy writes incredible literary eco-thrillers - I adored her previous novel Migrations set in the very near and chillingly real future, and I have heard constant praise for her more recent novel Wild Dark Shore! My amazing colleague Shirl read it and says it's one of those books that stays with you long after you have finished reading!
Non-Fiction longlist nominees are:
General Fiction longlist nominees are:
✦ Daughters of the Bamboo Grove: China’s Stolen Children and a Story of Separated Twins by Barbara Demick
✦ The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan by Lyse Doucet
✦ Don’t Let It Break You, Honey: A Memoir About Saving Yourself by Jenny Evans
✦ Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health by Daisy Fancourt
✦ With the Law on Our Side: How the Law Works for Everyone and How We Can Make It Work Better by Lady Hale
✦ To Be Young, Gifted and Black: Creativity and Race in the 21st Century by Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
✦ Artists, Siblings, Visionaries: The Lives and Loves of Gwen and Augustus John by Judith Mackrell
✦ Ask Me How It Works: Love in an Open Marriage by Deepa Paul
✦ Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perry
✦ The Genius of Trees: How Trees Mastered the Elements and Shaped the World by Harriet Rix
✦ Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War by Jane Rogoyska
✦ Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy
✦ Finding Albion: Myth, Folklore and the Quest for a Hidden Britain by Zakia Sewell
✦ To Exist As I Am: A Doctor’s Notes on Recovery and Radical Acceptance by Grace Spence Green
✦ Nation of Strangers: Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century by Ece Temelkuran
✦ Indignity: A Life Reimagined by Lea Ypi
“The books on this hopeful longlist are rigorous and researched, lyrical and flowing. They are drawn together by the originality and skill with which they have been written. This reading list carries relevance and truth for the future as well as holding significant value for the present day – the books spark curiosity and demand attention; they are for everyone navigating the complicated and unpredictable world we are living in. The voices of these sixteen remarkable women need to be heard – loud and clear.”
Thangam Debbonaire, Chair of Judges